Four firemen died 'for no good reason'

Four firefighters died in a blazing warehouse after being sent into "an obviously dangerous situation" for no good reason, a jury has been told.

Three fire service managers face four counts of manslaughter over the deaths of Ashley Stephens, Darren Yates-Badley, John Averis and Ian Reid.

Richard Matthews, QC, for the prosecution, said when crews were sent into a smoke-filled vegetable-packing plant in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire, in November 2007, the plant had been evacuated and no one was in danger.

All of the men deny all the charges against them. The trial continues.